HRD Minister Smriti Irani and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav engaged in a slanging match in the Rajya Sabha on Monday over sexist remarks by the latter last week. Yadav also refused to take back his remarks about complexion of women from South India saying he was ready for a debate on the issue.
The spat between the two leaders started after Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said he disassociated himself from comments made by Yadav last week. Disapproving Yadav’s remarks made during a debate on Insurance Bill in which Prasad was also present, the Minister urged the JD(U) leader to withdraw his comments.
Refusing to do so, Yadav said women with wheatish complexion are more in number in India and world over. This drew the ire of Irani who asked Yadav to refrain from discussing about complexion of women as a “very wrong message” is going across the country.
Yadav, in turn, shot back and said he is a follower of Ram Manohar lohia and Mahatma Gandhi who always respected women. Irani and Yadav then engaged in another verbal bout with the Minister appealing him to stop making such comments about women as he is a senior politician.
The JD (U) leader said he had raised a very important issue of discrimination on colour. “There has been a long struggle against discrimination based on colour... I am ready to participate in a debate any time,” Yadav said.
As some other members including DMK leader Kanimozhi backed Irani, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said he would not allow a discussion on the issue. “I am not allowing any discussion ... White or dark colour, it is all the same,” he said. leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was waiting to speak on the issue of security profiling of Rahul Gandhi by the Delhi Police, also asked Yadav to end the matter as further discussion will make the matter more complicated.